Cable stranding machine



o. E- R SM SEN CABLE STRANDING M INE Nov 21, 50

sheet heet 1 Filed Dec, 1948 lkY IN VENTOR ASMUSSEN A T T NEV Nov. 21,1950 o. E. RASMUSSEN CABLE STRANDING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledDec. 16, 1948 lNl/EN TOR 0. E. RASMUSSEN A ZYTQRNEV Nov. 21, 1950 QUE.RASMUSSEN 2,530,726

CABLE smRAnDmc MACHINE Filed Dec. 16, 1948 ll Sheets-Sheet 4 PLATE I22//v VEN TOP 0. E. RASMUS SEN AT TORNEY 1950 o. E. RASMUSSEN CABLE smmnmcmomma ll Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 16, 1948 lNl ENTOR 0 E RA SMUSSENATTORNEY Nov. 21, 1950 o. E. RAs ussEN CABLE =STRANDI-NG MACHINE llSheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec 16-; 1948 FIG/0 /Nl/E/V TOR By 0. E. RA SMUSSENATTORNEY Nov. 21, 1950 o. E. RAsMussEN 2,530,726

CABLE STRANDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 16, 1948 11 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTORO. ERASMUSSEN A T TORNE V Nov. 21, 1950 o. E. RASMUSSEN 2,530,725

CABLE s'munmc MACHINE Filed Dec. 16, 1948 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 lNl EN TORO. E. RASMUSSEN A T TORNEV Nov. 21, 1950 v o. E. RASMUSSEN 2,530,725

CABLE smmmme wmmm Filed Dec. 16, 1948 n Sheets-Sheet 10 'IN l/EN TOR0.51m SMUSSEN A T TORNE Y Nov. 21, 1950 o. E. RAEMUSSEN CABLE STRANDINGMACHINE 11 Sheet sSheet 11 Filed Dec. 16, 1948 INVENTOR By 0. E.RASMUSSEN ATTORNEY Patente'd Nov. 2 1, 1 950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE43 Claims.

This invention relates to cable stranding methods and machines andparticularly to methods and machines for producing multistrand cables ofthe reentrant type. The reentrant type of stranded cable ischaracteristic in that each of the strands of the cable occupiespositions at periodically varying depths in successive portions of thecable.

A cable of the reentrant type and a stranding machine for producing sucha cable have been disclosed in Patent No. 2,412,196, issued to Ashbaughand Hall on December 10, 1946.

It is an object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus inwhich the reentrant stranding operation into more than two or threelayers will be facilitated.

It is another object of the invention to provide a reentrant-cablestranding machine which will be of simplified construction andoperation.

A stranding machine of this general type comprises a strand supply Witha delivery spool for each strand. The strands are pulled from the spoolsthrough a set of distributing plates to a compacting die, in which thecable is formed, and then to a capstan and a cable drum by means ofwhich power is supplied for the lengthwise movement of the strands andthe cable. By means of the set of distributing plates the strands areplaced in a desired layer formation with which they enter the die. ancewith the reentrant principle, the strands are moved sideways in a fixedorder of succession into the various layers of the layer distribution sothat each strand will periodically travel to any and all of thepositions in the final layer distribution during each cycle ofdistributor operation in which a predetermined length of cable passesthrough the machine.

For the purpose of accomplishing the desired objects the inventioninvolves a number of novel features. Thus in accordance with a featureof the invention, the set of distributors is adapted for distribution ofthe strands in more than two layers by the formations in three or moredistributor plates which will permit the gradual distribution from asingle layer to the final layer distribution in such a manner thatinterference between adjacent strands, while passing through themachine, will be reduced to reasonable conditions. Thus in general theremay be one distributor plate for each layer in the final layerdistribution, the first plate forming one layer, the second two layers,the third three layers and so on. In this manner the strands may be keptapart as they travel through the distributor set or may engage withslight distortion of their line of travel between plates only at certaincrowded points. If desired, auxiliary distributor means may be providedbetween the main dis- However, in accordtributor plates for furtherseparation of the traveling strands at crowded points.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, traveling andstationary elements of the stranding machine are coordinated for thereentrant stranding operations in such a man ner that the deliveryspools in the strand supply may remain stationary during the strandingoperation of the machine, except, of course, for their individualrotation about their own axes for feeding strands. Thus, the necessityfor revolving the heavy strand supply for a cable with a large number ofstrands is obviated, and replacement of individual spools from time totime may be accomplished without the need of stopping the whole machine.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, each of the maindistributor plates produces a complete layer distribution, so that alayer may be added to a given layer distribution by adding a plate or alayer may be subtracted by removing a plate without disturbance to theremaining plates already mounted in the machine.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention the periodic transversetravel of the strands in each distributor plate and relative thereto isimparted to all the strands by mechanically driven common conveyormeans, somewhat of the general nature of the chain-conveyor, disclosedin the Ashbaugh-Hall patent, referred to above. In such an embodimentand in accordance with another more specific feature of the invention,the links in the chain-conveyor are provided with guiding means for theindividual strands so designed that they will permit insertion of thestrands into the guiding means without the need for threading thestrands therethrough. Thus the strands may be threaded through all thedistributor plates when a new set-up is mounted and thereafter theindividual trands may be placed in their assigned linkguides. Thisfeature also permits changing the location of one or more strands in anyplate even after the cable formation has commenced, without the need ofpulling the strand out of the machine or of cutting and resplicing it.

In accordance with an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention,the periodic transverse travel of the strands in the distributor platesis effected by the combined action of the longitudinal movement of thestrands under the pull from the capstan and a camming action exerted onthe strands by the layer configuration in the plates, as they rotaterelative to the spool supply. This feature thus obviates the need for achain-conveyor and its driving means in each distributor plate, exceptperhaps in the last plate with the complete layer distribution, where itmay still be advantageous to use a chain-con- 3 veyor. This featurefurthermore results in a great simplification of the plates. Thisfeature is made practically possible b the feature of the invention,referred to above, in accordance with which the machine includes one ormore plates for each layer in the total layer distribution, since by theprovision of a large number of camming plates the path of each strandthrough the whole distributor set may be made without shar kinks and thevarious strands may be moved through the set without appreciable mutualinterference. In fact, due to the simplicity of this type of cammingplates, so many plates may be used that their layer configurationsnearly define the whole path of all strands through the distributionset.

Other features of the invention will be hereinafter described andclaimed.

In the following detailed description reference 'will be made to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a simplified side-elevational view of a stranding machineembodying features of my invention for the production of a reentranttype cable, this machine being of the type referred to above, in which aconveyor chain is used in each distributor plate;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side-elevational view, with parts broken away, showing oneof the layer distributing plates and associated equipment employed inthe machine of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section,showing two successive layerdistributing plates and associated drivemechanism. In this figure, the right-hand plate is the plate of Fig. 3as it appears when viewed in sec- 'tion along the line ii-d of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating -the positions taken bydifferent strands passing through portions of the tracks of thefour-layer and five-layer distributor plates;

Fig. 5A is a similar view showing strand positions'in further trackportions of said plates;

Fig. 5B is a diagrammatic view showing the travel in space of a link ofa conveyor chain in the two-layer distributor plate, during onerevolution of that plate;

Fig. 5C is a similar diagrammatic view with respect to a link in thethree-layer distributor plate;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view showng a portion of a strandconveyor chain in a layerdistributor track;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 'l---'-' of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a portion of saidconveyor chain and adjacent track;

Fig. 8A is a fragmentary detail View showing a modified form of circulardistributing plate;

Figs. 9-12, inclusive, are simplified elevational views of successivelayer-distributor plates, respectively, in the machine of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 13 is a simplified side elevational view of a stranding machineembodying a modified form of the invention, this machine being generallyof the alternative type, referred to above, in which most of the layerdistributing plates operate with- 'out a strand conveyor chain;

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. 13;

Figs. 15-22, inclusive, are simplified elevational views of successivelayer-distributor plates, re-

spectively, in the embodiment of Figs. 13 and 14;

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary elevational view show ing a series of guidesfor maintaining successive strands in properly separated relation duringtheir passage through trackways of layer distributor plates in the Figs.13 and 14 arrangement;

Fig. 2 1 is a sectional view taken on line 24-24 of Fig. 23;

Fig. 24A is a detail view in perspective showing a modified form ofspacer disk which may be employed in connection with the layerdistributor plates of the Figs. 13 and 14 arrangement;

Fig. 25 is a fragmentary view of an alternative form of strandseparating guides;

Fig. 26 is a diagrammatic view showing one circular distributor plateand three layer distributor plates, together with the usual cornpactingdie for assembling the converging strands from the distributor plate;

Fig. 27 is a view similar to Fig. 26 but showing an additional layerdistributing plate interposed between the circular distributing plateand the compacting die for the formation of an additional emitted inFigs. 2 and 14 may be determined readily.

The strands employed by my invention in the formation of the cable maybe of conventional form. For instance, each strand may contain a twistedpair of insulated conductors "(such as shown in Fig. 1 of theaforementioned Ashbaugh- Hall patent), or each strand may be composed offour insulated conductors (as in Ashbaugh- I-Ialls Fig. 2) twisted toform what is known as a star-quad. Other types 'of strands and othertypes of twisting maybe used within the scope of the invention.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the stranding machine thereillustrated comprises a strand supply A, strand distributing equipmentB, and a cable storing apparatus C.

The strand supply may be arranged in any convenient manner, but in thepresent embodiment comprises a'plurality of spools [35 mounted in asuitable stationary framework ifii. The framework may be formed ofvertical bars Hi2, I03, its and 105, together with intervening crossbars such as are illustrated at I QB, H37, H18, H19 and H9. The verticalbars are bolted to suitable stationary base supports 1 i i, H2.

The individual spools lei} contain a supply of strand for the cable andeach is mounted or pivoted for individual rotation on a spindle 13 andhas a brake arrangement for tensioning of the strand, as is well knownin the art. The strand from the spool may be led through suitableeyelets arranged to equalize the speed of feeding of the strand, as iswell-known in the art. Details of these spool mountings are not shown inthe drawing, since they do not form a part of the invention. Forinformation on such details reference may be had to the United StatesPatents 1,579,769, issued to H. F. Jones on April 6, 1926, and 1,813,197issued to L. O. Reichelt on July 7,1931.

The framework in! contains a spool I38 for each strand.

common axis.

Attached to the Vertical posts" I04, I05 are guides H4, H5 suitablyapertured to permit the passage of the strands from the spools I00. Forinstance, if a cable is to be formed from eighty strands, there will beeighty spools suitably distributed in the framework Il. There may be,for example, forty spools mounted between the vertical posts I02 and I04and forty other spools supported between the posts I03 and I05. Thestrands from the spools between posts I02 and I04 pass through theapertured guide 4, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Similarly, the strandsfrom the spools between posts I03 and I05 pass through the aperturedguide H5.

From the guides I I4, I I5 the strands are passed through a stationarydistributing plate H6, which, as shown, may be rigidly secured, as bybolts III, to a suitable stationary support H8. The distributor plate H6may be a simple annular ring structure having guide holes, one for eachstrand, arranged in a circle, a in the distributor plate 2I0 in theaforementioned Ashbaugh and Hall patent. The plate I It should, ofcourse, have a sufficient number of guide holes to accommodate the totalnumber of strands for their hook portions face in opposite directions.

In this manner a strand may be laid in a pair of hooks, withoutthreading, and will be locked in position during stranding operations bythe opposed overlapping hook portions.

It will be apparent that if desired, each of the guides II4, II5 may beprovided with sets of opposed hooks similar to the hooks IIGA above Idescribed, for receiving the strands without the necessity of threadingthem through individual openings in the guides.

Between the circular distributing plate I I6 and the conventionalcompacting die II9 I interpose I a series of layer distributing plates,which receive the strands from said circular distributing plate anddistribute said strands in progressively increasing numbers of layersuntil the desired final layer formation is attained. The strands aredrawn from the spools I00, through the dis tributor plates andcompacting die IIS, by a rotatable capstan I24, which capstan may be ofconventional construction.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 there are shown fourrotating layer distributing plates, designated I20, I2I, I22 and I23,respectively, positioned between the plate H6 and the compacting die H9,and rotatable about a As shown in Figs. 9-12, each of said plates II23has an opening or trackfor distribution of the strands in concentriclayer formation, the opening in each plate providing for one more layerthan the preceding plate.

Thus, the plate I20 (Fig. 9) has an opening I providing surfaces m and nfor the distribution of the strands in corresponding layers a and b. Ithas been noted that in the plate II6 the strands are distributed in asingle circular layer. In plate I20, which receives the strands fromplate H6, the single circular distribution is altered to a doublearcuate distribution, i. e.,- along two concentric arcuate layers a andb. In other words, the circular strand layer obtained from plate II6 isfolded within itself to form a double layer in plate I20.

In plate I2I (Fig. 10) which receives the double layer of strands fromplate I20, the opening I26 provides for three concentric layers, a, band c; the inner layer of the double strand layer obtained from plateI20 being folded within itself in plate I2I to form a third layer 0.

In plate I22 (Fig. 11) the opening I2? provides for four concentriclayers,. a, b, c and d; whereby the innermost layer of the strandspassing from plate I2I is folded within itself in plate I22 to providean additional layer d.

Finally, the opening I28 in plate I23 (Fig. 12) provides for fiveconcentric strand layers, a, b, c, d and e; so that the innermost layerof the strands passing from plate I22 is folded within itself in plateI23 to produce an additional layer 6.

The distributor plates I20I23 may be continuously rotated during thestranding operation. For that purpose a motor I30 (Fig. 1) may beprovided, said motor driving a shaft I3I through a pinion I32 and gearwheel I33. Gear wheels I34, I35, I36 and I3'I secured to said shaft,mesh with gears I20, I2I, I22 and I23 fastened to the respectivedistributors I20, I2I, I22 and I 23.

The distributor plates Nt -I23 may be of identical construction exceptfor the shape of the layer-distributing openings or tracks abovereferred to and for the ratio of internal gearing as will be describedhereinafter. As exemplifying the construction of said plates, adescription of one of them, namely the plate I23, will suffice.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be noted that the distributor plateI23 comprises front and rear plates or walls I and It! spaced apart byan annular member M2, said walls and spacing member being firmlyfastened together as a unit by bolts hi3" suitably spaced around saidwalls. The distributor plate assembly I23, comprising said walls Hi0, MIand spacer I42, is rotatably mounted in a stationary annular bearingmember Mi l mounted on a pedestal I45. Antifriction means, such asrollers I06, may be interposed between said distributor plate I23 andthe interior of said bearing member I ls. Conveniently, the rollers mayrotate in grooves I I'I, I48 in said bearing member IN and spacer I42,respectively; said rollers having axle projections I 36 journaled insaid bearing member Hi4. Said member Hi4 may, as shown, he formed insemi-circular sections suitably bolted together as at I49. The gearmember I23 is fastened to the front wall I40 by suitably spaced boltsI50.

The walls I l-0 and I I-I are cut away or otherwise formed to providethe previously mentioned opening I20 (Figs. 3, 4 and 12) through whichthe strands pass from the preceding distributor. The spacing of saidwalls by the member I42 provides a hollow interior I5I. Within saidinterior, and suitably secured to the wall I40, as by welding orotherwise, are inner and outer track members I52, I53 respectively, asshown in Figs. 4 and 7; while similar track members I54, I55 are securedto the opposite wall Isl. All of said track members follow the contouror configuration of the opening I28 and provide a continuous trackwayfor an endless conveyor I56.

Said conveyor I56 may comprise a series of spindles I5? connectedtogether by a plurality of series of links I58, I59 (Figs. 6, 7 and 8).The links I58 have hook portions I60 facing in op- Fig. 4.

7 posite direction to hook portions '16! on the links 159;. Each cablestrand is passed under hook sec of one of the links 158 and also underthe oppositely facing hook It! of the adjacent link ifid, as illustratedin Figs. 4 and 8. The hooks ififl, ifii of the conveyor 156 thus providefor spacing or distributing the strands throughout the multilayeropening 128.

This arrangement resembles the arrangement of opposed hooks used inthemodified form "of stationary plate H5 (shown in Fig. 8A and abovedescribed) in that a strand may be laid in under a pair of hooks withoutthreading and yet will be locked in position during the operation of themachine. This provision facilitates a redistribution of strands here andthere along the track before starting, Whenever desired, even after allstrands have been passed through the machine.

The number of hooked links on each chain 'is suiiicient for themaximum-capacity of the machine.

J ournaled on opposite ends of each spindle 157 are rollers E62, 153;the rollers I62 engaging the trackway formed by the members i152, I53while rollers H53 engage the trackway formed by the members iii-i, 555(Fig. '7).

In Figs. 3 and 4 there is illustrated a distribution of cable strands inthe distributor plate I23, suitable for an eighty-strand cable. In Fig.3 the strands are indicated by dots around the conveyor trackway in theopening I28. Commencing with the strand position designated in Fig. 3,every fifth strand is indicated by the numerals 5, 10, etc, there beingeighty strands in the whole trackway. Various strands passing fromdistributor $22 to distributor I23 are also numbered in Incidentally, itmay be noted that in Fig. 4 the parts of the distributor I22corresponding to parts in distributor i23' bear the same referencenumerals. As previously noted, each distributor l2i3, IZI, E22 and I23may be of the same construction aside from the configuration of itsstrand opening or trackway.

The momentary distribution of the strands passing between distributorplates in and I23,

which have the most complicated tracksis further iliustrated in Figs.and 5A. In Fig. 5, the strand designated 0 and the first thirty strandsto the left thereof (terminating with strand 5B) are shown passingthrough the track portions or and b of opening 52? in distributor I22.Twentysix of these strands extend through track portions a and b of theopenin E28 in distributor I23, and the other five extend through portion0 of said opening 23. In Fig. 5A, strands 58-49 are shown extendingthrough track portions 0 and d of opening 2? and through track portions0, d and e of opening E28. The strands at the right of strand 0 in Fig.3 are arranged similarly to those above discussed, one of said strandsbeing shown in Fig. 5A at the right of the strand designated 39.

It will thus be seen that the strands passing from plate i22 to plate523 are converted from a four-layer arrangement to five layers.Similarly, the strands passing from plate lit to plate 425 (Fig. 9) arechanged from one to two layers; those from plate see to plate i2l (Fig.10) are changed to three layers and those from plate [2i to plate E22(Fig. 11) are converted from three to four layers. The final layerdistribution of the eighty strands in the example illustrated is -asshownin Figs. 3 and 12.

As previously observed, the strands are continuously drawn through thevarious distributor plates 1 It, 129-423, and compacting "die 119 by thecapstan 53 i. Simultaneously with this longitudinal travel, the strandspassing through the rotating distributors 4253-523 move laterally ortransversely -'of said distributors, so that each strand travelstransversely through the successive strand layers each distributor andby the end of its transverse travel in the final "distributing plateeach strand has passed through all of the positions to be simultaneouslyoccupied by allot the strands in the finished cable. In other'words,each s'trand during the travel of a predetermined length of cablethrough the machine, passes through all of the aforementioned positionsso that in each predetermined length of the finished cable each strandoccupies successive positions at all possible depths from the surface tothe center.

It will be apparent that if desired, the strand spools i118 may bemounted in a rotatable cradle with which the circular distributing plate'H'S may also rotate like the spools i-e'sl, cradle Ill] and circulardistributing plate 258 in the previously mentioned Ashbaugh and HallPatent No. 2,412,193. In such event, the layer distributing platesi2i3-l3 which I provide would be stationary and the conveyors I56therein would be driven continuously in unison directly by the motor'iEG or other suitable motivemeans.

Through the provision of the series of layer dis ributing plates 1 36-423, with their provisions for distributing the strands in progressivelyincreasingnumb'ers of layers until the desired final layer formation isobtained, I am able to avoid undue crowding or" the strands such aswould be particularly likely to be encountered in the winding ofreentrant cable'sof more than three layers by a machine using only asingle rotary distributorplate.

reduced'crowding'and interference between the strands is secured mainlyby the twofeatures of the distributing set, in accordance with one'ofwhich only one layer at a'time is folded inside itself so that each newredistribution may be finished before the next layer is folded in, andin accordance with the other of which the various bays or horns in thelayer pattern .of the strand openings do not extend beyond asemi-cir'cle so that a strand need not penetrate too deeply 'into themass of strands and need not move along too deep a curve as it travelsthroughthe various parts of the pattern.

Through my provision of distributor plates, such as shown at Mil-I23,for the progressive redistribution of the strands from the first orcircular stage to the final layer stage, as many as five layers ofreentrant cable strands may be wound Without crowding, as willparticularly be apparent fromFigs. 5 and 5A. For still more layers thenumber of distributor plates may of course be correspondingly increased,the final plate of the series embodying the desired final layerdistribution.

As abovepointed out, the desired transverse motion of the strands in thedistributor plates I 2E]l23 may be obtained by driving the conveyors ins'aidplates while said plates arestationary,.and the spool cradle andcircular distributing plate 1 It are. rotating. However, by rotating thedistributor plates Mil-I23, as shown in Figs. 14, I am able to dispensewith the necessity of rotatingthe heavy spool cradle, which is ofdistinct advantage andempty spools maybe replaced without theineed ofstopping the-machine. Rotationef the circular distributingplate .9 H6 isalso avoided with resultant advantage, especially where numerous strandsare involved.

During the rotation of the distributor plates I'M-I23, the respectiveconveyor chains I56 are driven in the strand openings in said plates tomove the strands transversely in predetermined order with respect tosaid plates, so that each of said strands is caused to occupysubstantially all positions in succession in each layer of each of thestrand distributions. For this purpose, I provide means which may takethe following form (referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4).

Fastened to the stationary bearing member I44 is an annular internalgear member I56 which is engaged by a gear wheel I 61 fastened on ashaft I 58 suitably journaled in the walls I40, MI of the distributorplate I23. Also secured to said shaft IE8 in the space between saidwalls is a gear wheel I69 which meshes with another gear I'Ill securedto a shaft "I also journaled in said walls I40, Idl. A sprocket wheelIl2 is fastened to said shaft I II and engages the spindles of theconveyor chain I56 to drive the latter as shown in Figs. 4, 6 and 7.

With this construction it will readily be seen that as the distributorplate rotates, carrying with it the conveyor chain I56, sprocket wheelI12 and gears I61, I59, I10, said gears and sprocket wheel arecontinuously rotated through the engagement of gear I51 with thestationary internal gear I66. Thereby the conveyor chain I56 iscontinuously moved along its trackways in the opening I23 as long as thedistributor plate is rotating. With the gearing so chosen that theconveyor chain I55 is driven through one complete turn in one revolutionof the distributor I23 it will be seen that the strands passing throughsaid conveyor will likewise be carried completely around the tracks insaid opening during said distributor revolution. For instance, thestrand in the position designated in Fig. 3 will pass completely aroundthe opening I28 and back to said 0 position in one revolution of thedistributor I 23, the strand in the position designated will passcompletely around said opening and back to said position 5, and so on.Thus at the end of each revolution of the distributor plate, the strandspassing therethrough are restored to the same positions which theyoccupied with respect to said plate at the beginning of the revo- -ilution, without imparting an ultimate twist to the body of strands.While the strands are being drawn longitudinally through said conveyor,they are also traveling with the conveyor in the opening of said plateso as to be stranded into the desired layer distribution.

To assist in imparting a desirable smooth and continuous motion to theconveyor I56, and to insure that the necessary power is transmitted tothe chain without undue strain on the teeth or links, there may beprovided in the distributor plate I23 additional sets of planetarygearing similar to that above described. Such an additional planetarygear set may be .a duplicate of that previously described and maycomprise a pair of gears I similar to the gears I61 and IE9 secured to acommon shaft, one meshing with the internal gear I 55 and the othermeshing with a gear I15 and thereby driving sprocket wheel Ill whichengages another portion of the conveyor.

Planetary gear sets, such as those above described, are also providedfor driving the conveyor chain of each of the other distributor plates,as indicated in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, so that each of said conveyor chainsis driven through one complete turn with respect to its distributorplate in one revolution of said plate.

In summary, as the distributor plates ar rotated in unison while thecable strands are drawn through the conveyors in said plates, theconveyors are driven through one complete turn with respect to theirplates in each plate rotation. The circular strand layer passing fromthe stationary circular distributing plate EH6 to the firstlayer-distributing plate 12s is folded within itself to form a doublelayer by the conveyor traveling in the opening I25 of said plate I23.The double layer of strands received from plate in by plate E2! isformed into three layers by the conveyor traveling in the opening E26,during a revolution of said plate IZI. The triple layer of strandspassing from plate l2! to plate I22 is formed into four layers by theconveyor in the opening I21, during a revolution of plate I22. Finally,the four layers received by plate I23 from plate I22 are formed intofive layers by the conveyor traveling in opening I 23, during onerevolution of said plate I23. The strands are thus progressively formedinto the desired five layer distribution during their travel through therotating distributor plates I2t'I2-3, and each strand is caused to passthrough all positions in succession in each layer of the stranddistributions. At the end of each revolution of each plate, the strandspassing through the conveyor therein are restored by said conveyor tothe same relative positions that they occupied at the beginning of therevolution, without an ultimate twist to the body of strands.

In the following, some details are presented which will serve as aconcrete example of the manner in which the features of the inventionmay be used in practice. Variations in these details are of coursepossible without a departure from the scope of the invention.

A machine such as is described above and illustrated in Figs. 1 to 12,is equipped with as many distributor plates as there are layers in a 'acable core to be stranded thereby. The total Number of Links in LayersTotal Additional plates for additional layers may have chains of fourhundred eighty or six hundred forty links, it being advisable to enlargethe pattern of the strand opening as the number of layers increases inorder to maintain reasonably large curvatures in the sharper bends ofthe chain track. The links are the same size in all chains.

11' In the following the gearing is: given in termsof, links,corresponding: to: those in the chains, rather than in terms. oi teeth,it being a simple matter to convert these figures into number of teethof. convenient size.

Thus the main drive. I66v in each rotating platehas: a number of teethequivalent to two hundred-- eighty links.

In plates I22 and I23, gear wheels Iiii'v and I59 are alike with anumber of teeth equivalent to sixty links; gear wheel I'Iil has. anumber of teeth equivalent to forty-nine. links. and sprocket Wheel IlZhas a number of teeth equivalent to fifty-six links.

In' plates I28 and; I2I gear wheel I6? has a number of teeth.equivalent: to. sixty links, wheel I69 has a number of. teethequivalent, to thirty links, wheel I'Iil has, a IIUmbIBI'fOf teethequivalent. to forty-ninezlinks' and sprocket wheel I12 has a numberofteeth equivalent to. fifty-six links.

With this gearing the chains will travel oncethrough the differentlayer" configurations in the time the'plates make one; revolution.

For the sakeof clarification there is shown. in Fig. SE a diagram oftheaactual-travelin space-of a single link I58 during onerevolutionofthe two layer plate I 20. In this-diagram the fractions T e, etc.,indicate the positions this link will be in after A;, A etc;, of a:revolution of the plate. It will be apparent that the link itself firstundergoesa clockwisehalf turnin traveling: from position: 3 to position1,. thereafter un'does; this half turn in traveling frompositiorrI. toposition. I1 then makes an. anti-clockwise half-1 turn between positionsII andIIZE and: undoes that. in.- traveling from position- III back. to:position; 0. The same. operations are performed by the adjacent linkswhich thus; go through. similar opposite half turns individually and.together with their adjacent links, but after one revolution return tothe starting point without having: turned about one another, andtherefore without having imparted a final twist to the strands passingthrough the said links.

A similar diagram. ofthe travel of a link' in the three-layer plate I2Iduring one-revolution of the plate is shown in Fig; 5C; The doing andundoing of successive half turns of. the link will readily be apparentalso for: this plate. Other similar diagrams may be drawn for the moreDistribution of Strands in Plates Layer r 4 Layer :1 6 9 Layer r 10 l4l6 Layer b -l 30 v 26 22 Layer a 50' 45 35 29 Total 80 80 80 80 80 For afive-layer cable with three strands in the center every fifth link wouldbe used in layer e of 12 plate 2:31 Similarly. using every fifth link inall layers of plates 22 and I-23 and every 2 link, average, in platesHE, sec: and I2! the 00111- plete distribution won :1 be as follows:

sixth link would be used inv layer (Z of plate i22 resulting in. the:following distribution:

Distribution of Strands in Plates Layers a. .l 4' Layersc l i e 6 ElLayers'lf 20 16 I 16 Lnyers.a' 52' 32 30' 23 Total 52 V 52 52 52 Similardata may be computed for other fourlayer cables and for three-layercables. For three-layer cables plates I23. and I22. would be. omitted.

Itwill. thus be readily apparent that the invention, as embodied in themachine. described in detail. above, has a further advantage, namelythat the change-over from one size of cable core to another maybeaccomplished with a minimum of effort. After the previously strandedcore has been cut away and the free strand ends raveled, one or moreplates at the end of the lineup. may readily be pulled out over thestrand ends. Excess strands may be pulled out of the remaining plates.andthe retained strands may be redistributed by hand without beingrethreaded through these plates. For. a larger cable, additional strandsmust be threaded through the plates and all strands-must of course bethreaded through any additional plate. The old strands in the old platesmay also in this case be redistributed Without rethreading them throughthe plates.

The usual compacting or polisher die IE9 receives the converging.strands from the plate I23 and compacts them into a. cable of a desireddiameter. and a desired, density. Said. die Hal is designed to assemblethe converging strands into a compact cable core or strand unit 988which may be of circular cross-section, for example. With the propernumber of strands in. the successive layers for substantially filling.the circular cross-section of the cablev with strands, the compacting,die will operate to fold the layers into complete. circles, even thoughthe layers may leave the. distributing. plate I23 with some gapoccasioned by the mechanical construction of the plate for effecting themultilayer distribution. As the strands leave the trackway or openingi28 in the plate I23 the desired layer pattern will be fully establishedby the folding and compacting of the die H9.

From said die II9, the layered cable core l8!) passes into the cablestoring equipment C which comprises a tape wrapping attachment I 8!, apower-driven capstan I24, and a frictionally driven cable reel mechanismI82. The general arrangement of the cable storing equipment is similarto that disclosed in the United States Patent 1,920,182, issued to H. J.Bee on August 1, 1933. It should, however, be understood that the cablestoring equipment may be of any convenient construction adapted forpulling the cable from the polisher at a uniform speed and also adaptedfor imparting a uniform over-all lay of a desired length to the cable.

The serving head I33 of the tape wrapping equipment is rotatablysupported and carries a supply reel I84 of paper ribbon or any othersuitable wrapping or binding material. Said serving head I83 is drivenby a chain drive from the motor I at a suitable spied, applying theribbon helically to the advancing cable.

From the serving head I83 the cable lfiil passes through an aperture inthe capstan sup porting plate I 85 and on to the capstan drum 2% whichis mounted so that the receivin portion of the drum is tangentiallydisposed with respect to the axis of rotation of the plate I85. Thecapstan plate is rotatably journaled on a bearing 81 and has on itsperiphery gear teeth designed to mesh with a pinion I88, driven throughsuit able gearing from the motor I30. The capstan drum I86 is journaledin supports fastened on the plate I85 for rotation about its own axisand for rotation together with the plate I85 about the axis of themoving cable. The capstan drum I86 is driven about its own axis throughthe rotation of the plate I85, by bevel gears 18?) through shaft I99 anda pinion I9I meshing with the stationary gear I22 fixed to the bearingI87. By this construction it will be understood that the shaft I90 isdriven through the rotation of the capstan plate 585 and in turn drivesthe capstan drum I86 through the gears I89, I95 and I92 about its ownaxis.

The cable I851, after making a number of turns around the capstan drumIE6, is delivered to the take-up reel I93, removably mounted in arotatable cradle comprising a pair of spaced annular rings I 94, E94,rigidly interconnected by crosspieces I25. The annular rings 9% areprovided with flanged peripheral portions having gear teeth which meshwith pinions Iiili, I96 on the secondary shaft 191 driven by the motorI36}. In this manner, rotation of said cradle and takeup reel I93 ismaintained at the same speed as that of the capstan I85 and around thesame axis. The take-up reel is mounted in the cross pieces 585 of thecradle for rotation about its own axis and. may be driven from thecapstan drive shaft see through friction wheels E98 and. 492.

The capstan and take-up mechanism may be rotatably supported in anyconvenient way. For example, rollers 2G0, mounted in extensions ofbearings 29! which support the shaft I91, may engage in grooves inannular members 202 fastened respectively to the capstan plate I85 andto the plates I94, led of the take-up reel cradle.

With the specific arrangement of the stranding machine, as shown inFigs. 1-12, the strands from the spools H39 are moved longitudinallywith the uniform average speed through the circular distributing plateH6 and the layer dis" tributing plates I2Eil23, thence through thecompacting die H9 and the tape serving head IBI, and pass on to thecapstan I 24 as a stranded cable core.

the cable. Thus, the distributor plates 120-423 are rotated, and theconveyors 556 are driven in said plates, at a desired uniform speed,each revolution representing a cycle of layer formation; and the capstan12 i and cable reel I82 are bodily revolved approximately about the sameaxis as said plates to make a desired number of revolutions forproducing the final over-all stranding lay.

It will be noted that the stranding lay is applied by twisting the cablebodily at a uniform speed after the layered cable has passed through thecompacting die. The effect is to rotate the layer pattern about thecable axis without disturbing the established interrelation between thestrands, with the result that the layered cable receives an over-allstranding lay.

The relation between the unit length of cable, in which each strandcompletes a cycle of position changes, and the length of lay, in whichthe cable is given a complete twist, depends on the requirements of thecable. Thus, in a communication cable the cycle of layer formation maybe stretched over 56 to feet, whereas the length of lay may be of theorder of a few feet, for example, from 1 to 10 feet.

Whereas with a combination of layer distribution and over-all strandinglay, any strand may not take all possible positions within a unit lengthof cable relative to a surface reference line par" allel with the axis,each strand will, however, take all possible positions relative to allthe other strands and all strands will travel through similar paths ineach unit length of cable.

Thus, in a communication cable stranded in accordance with theinvention, all the strands within the cable core will be similarlyexposed to the proximity of an outer metal. sheath or shield and to thevarying layer pressures, and all strands will necessarily be of equallength in each unit length of cable since they pass through similarpaths. Thus, the inequalities in electrical characteristics of thevarious strands due to these varying causes may be inherently reduced towithin desirable limits, and the necessity for or degree of equalizationby cross-connections between cable lengths may be reduced accordingly,whether the cable be for voice or carrier frequencies or both.

It will, of course, be understood that the imparting of the strandinglay is optional and that it may be omitted if desired.

In the modified embodiment shown in Figs. 13-24, the strand spools Illsare mounted in a supporting frame IEII which may be the same as shown inFigs. 1 and 2. As in Figs. 1 and 2, the strands from the spools in Figs.13 and 14, may pass through guides H4, H5 and through a stationarycircular distributing plate 2 Id. The plate 2H! may be the same as plateIIB in Figs. 1 and 2 and it may be provided with holes for passage ofthe strands, or with hooks as shown in Fig. 8A. Its central portion iscut away to permit the passage of a shaft 2! I. At one end the shaft 2is journaled for rotation in a hearing formed at the upper end of apedestal 2 I4 and it is driven 15: by a chains and sprocket. drive; 2l2from. a motor. 21:3 The pedestal 214 is set. back far enough: from plate2 iii." to clearthe strands carried from the strand supply to plate 2 l8.

The arrangement shown in Figs; 13 and 141 is an example of. howthe-machine maybe equippedfor: stranding ofa five-layer cable; Thusthe'set of distributors: 223. includes the stationary plate 219, sevenchainless rota-ting plates 2E5, 2W, 2-H, M3,. 2 I9, 225 and 22! and therotating plate 222% which; has a chain-conveyor;

The plates 25-5. to 22!, as shown in Figs. 15 to 21, each comprises asimple flat plate having a strand guideslot therein, which is difierentfrom the strand guide opening used with a. chainconveyor, such asalready described. Since the chaineconveyor runs in tracks which causethe links to follow the rim of the guide opening; the strands in, thelinks will also follow the rim. However, in the present embodiment thestrand guide opening in each plate is filled: in: with aninner floating'portion of the plate which in gen-- eral conforms to the contour of theguide open-- ing in the outer portion but which leaves a guide slotbetween its rim and the rim of the main portion of the plate somewhatwider than the diam-- eter of the strands; The strands are threadedthrough this slot and thus are forced to follow the desired layerconfiguration as they travel.

transversely and longitudinally through the plate.

Referring nowto, the drawings,.Figs. 1'3-22; the strands. from thestrand supply liltare passed through the holes, or laid into the hooks,in. stationary plate 212, then threaded through the guide. slots inplates: 25% to 22I, then laid into the hooks of: the. chain-conveyor inplate 222. and converged. into the compacting die I Ill.

The stationary plate 215! is preferably provided. with a, double row ofstrand hooks as shown in Fig. 8A.

As shown in Figs. 15 to 21 the chainless platescomprise outer main plateportions 215 to 22! and inner floating plate portions 2| to 22!, soshaped and dimensioned that in each case a narrow endless slot 23E3to236 is left between the outer and the floating portions. Theconfigurations of the' slots are such as will cause the travelingstrands to arrange themselves in an: increasing number of Layers as, thestrands travel: toward the compacting die H9.

It will be noted that the inner floating plate portions will be entirelysurrounded by the body of strands passing through the machine and thuscannot be directly mechani ally connected to the outer plate portionsfor rotation therewith.

ofthe outer plate portions 2th to 22! is' mounted for rotation relativeto the strand group in a corresponding one of a. series of stationarycircular bearing members 223 secured to a suitable pedestal 22 i.Anti-friction rollers 225 may be mounted in each bearing. member forengagement with the rim of the associated rotatable plate, as shown inconnection with the plates 2 l 5 ber 2'42 fastened by suitable posts tothe outer plate portion of distributor 215-. The gearing is' A gearwheel 2 1i, fastened to shaft 1 6; such that the set of outer; plateportions 2l5 to 22! will make exactly one revolution for each revolutionof shaft 2| l.

The inner floating plate portions 2'l5 to 22l also are fixedlyinterconnected by means of rods 22?, so that they too will rotate as aunit. The inner plate portion 2P5 is fastened at its center in anysuitable manner to the end of shaft 2! I.

In this manner the set of inner plate portions and the set of outerplate portions may be driven in exact unison for maintaining the properwidth of the strand guide slots in all the plates at any speed ofoperation.

It will be seen that all the strands will pass between the inner andouter cages of rods 22'! and 226 without interference.

As will be noted from the examples presented above, of cables ofdiiierent sizes produced by the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2, thestrand. distribution inany one layer in any one plate differs for thedifferent sizes of cable. Thus in accordance with the distributiontables the plates may carr eighty or sixty-four or fifty-two or anyother number of strands. For a plate with one hundred sixty links inthat machine, every other link would be used for an eightystrand cable,whereas for a fifty-two strand cable every third link would be used,except for four instances where the strands would be four links apart.These instances would, of course, be distributed fairly evenly aroundthe track.

In the chainless plates of the machine shown in Figs. 13 and 14, similardistributions would exist for the diiierent sizes of cables. There is,however, no way of distributing the uneven spacing, as in the case ofthe fifty-two strand cable, along the guide slot. Shortly after startingthe machine, the extra spaces would run together in one place along theslot in each plate.

This may not be desirable at the point of the last plate from which thestrands pass into the die where they should be nearly evenlydistributed. For this reason the-final plate 2 22 with the completefive-layer distribution may preferably be made of the type using aconveyor chain.

The plate 222 may be the same as the plate I 23 illustrated in Figs. 4.and 12 and previously described. As shown in Fig. 22, plate 222 has anopening 237, which is the same as the opening [28 in plate 523 forforming the strands into five layers; and said opening 222, like opening128, contains an endless conveyor chain driven by gears and sprocketwheels during rotation of said plate, in the same manner as the conveyorI55 of plate I23. Such gearing is indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 22.The plate 222 is rotated with the same speed as the other plates by apinion 238 on the motor-driven shaft 2-39, said pinion meshing with agear 24?; secured to said plate. The plate 222 is rotatably mounted in:a suitable stationar bearing I44, which may be of the same constructionas the bearings M4 shown in Fig. l.

It will be noted that the endless slots or tracks in the plates 2E6,2l8- and 226, are of contours similar to the openings in the platesl2ll, Hi and I22 of Figs. 9-11. The strands may, if desired, passdirectly from the circular distributing plate 2-H!- to the slot or track23l in plate 21-6, and thence through the slots in plates 2E2 and 22G.However, if a more gradual progressive distribution, of the strandsduring their passage from the circular distributing plate 2 It to thecompacting: die H9 should be desired, there may be included theintermediate plates H5, 211, 2) and" 22l,

17 interposed between the previously mentioned main plates 2l6, 2l8, 220and 222.

With this arrangement it will be seen that in the plate 2 I 5 (Fig. 15),which receives the strands from plate are, the single circulardistribution has been altered by the track 230 to a distribution inwhich certain of. the strands are disposed along an inwardly projectingbulge 230 of said track.

In plate 2E6 (Fig. 16) the strand distribution is extended by track 23lto a double layer.

In plate 2!? (Fig. 17) part of the strands in the inner layer aredistributed in the inwardly projecting bulge 232 of the slot or track.

The track 233 in plate 2N; (Fig. 18) provides for a three layerdistribution of the strands.

In plate 219 (Fig. 19), part of the strands in the third layer areextended toward the center of the plate in the inwardly projecting trackbulge 234'.

The strands passing through the track 235 in plate 22%; (Fig. 20) aredistributed in four layers by said track.

In plate 225 (Fig. 21) part of the strands in the four-layer strands arefurther redistributed by the track 236, forming a new bulge while inplate 222 (Fig. 22) the strands from plate 22%| are arranged infivelayers in the conveyor in the opening 231.

As indicated in Figs. 23 and 24:, the strands 2% pass directly throughthe slots or tracks in the plates 2l5--22l. The edges or said slots arepreferably rounded, as indicated at 2 43, to eliminate undesirablefriction or binding between said edges and the strands. For maintainingthe strands in desired spaced relation in the tracks, which have thesame total length in all the plates, there may be provided spacer discs25L carried by the respective strands.

There may be a set of such discs for each plate. Thus the strands willbe separated a distance at least equal to the radius of the discs. Thediscs also serve to prevent one strand from crossing another in theguide slot, since the discs tend to stay close to the back of thedistributorplates due to slight friction with the traveling strands.

The discs may, of course, be made of any conventional design, wherebythey may be inserted upon the strands already threaded through themachine, as for example, by making each disc in two interlocking halves,Edi, 25! as shown in Fig. 24A.

In Fig. 25 there is illustrated an alternative arrangement in which thestrands carry spacer members 252 which are pinned or otherwise attachedto each other so that the strands are distributed around the tracks atfixed distances from each other.

During the rotation of the plates 215-225 in Figs. 13 and 14, thestrands passing through the slots 23l235 tend to remain stationary inthe rotary sense. However, the inwardly projecting or eccentric surfacesof said slots engage the successive strands in each revolution of saidplates and exert a camming action upon them to impart transversemovements to said strands for arranging them in the appropriate layerdistribution. For instance, assuming the plate 2 [5 to be rotating inthe direction of the arrow in Fig. 16, the strand 25%! shown in thelower part of the track 23 while tending to remain stationary, will beengaged by the track surface 23! and camined radially inwardly'into theinner track portion. Successive strands will be likewise cammed by saidsurface 23 l into said inner track portion, pushing the strands ahead ofthem around said inner track portion. Upon the completion of onerevolution of the plate 2l6, each of the strands passing therethroughhas traveled around the entire two-layer track 231 in said plate. Thecamming action of the track portion 23l' upon each strand is assisted bythe fact that each strand is backed by the other strands behind it inthe outer track, with resultant resistance to travel in the direction ofrotation of the plate as the surface 23E engages the strand. In eachrevolution of said plate 252, each strand while traveling longitudinallytherethrough under the action of the capstan I2 3, is moved transverselyof said longitudinal movement, around the twolayer track 23L In furtherexplaining this interaction between strands and track it will be assumedfor a moment that there is no longitudinal movement of the strands.

As the camming portion 23! moves against the strands in both layersthere will be a certain packing of the strands in both layers at thispoint, and as the camming portion 23! moves away from the strands inboth layers there will be a certain easing up between the strands atthis point. Since the linear movement of the outer track is faster thanthat of the inner track the packing in the outer track near the portion23l' would be greater than in the inner track.

However, with a longitudinal movement of the strands several timesfaster than the linear rotary movements at any part of the track it isreadily understood that an almost liquid condition of motion isobtaining for the strands at any point of the track.

Thus the greater packing pressure in the outer layer is able to overcomethe smaller pressure in the inner layer to force strands from the outerlaye raround the bend at portion 23 i into the inher layer. Similarlythe unbalanced condition at the bend 23E will tend to admit strands fromthe inner layer to the outer layer.

A strand in the outer layer of course remains stationary in space untilit reaches the bend 23! where it will move radially into the innerlayer. Since in this manner strands will be continuously and slowly fedinto the inner layer, this entire layer will travel in the track in thedirection of rotation; it is obvious that the strands will travel fasterthan the camming portion 23 I which continuously feeds them into theinner layer.

Thus in spite of the tendency of the strands to remain stationary theywill be temporarily removed from the outer layer and displaced along theinner track at a greater speed than that of the inner track. The timespent in the inner track is equal to the time of travel of a point 2stto the point 25%? along the circle of the outer track so that a strandmay complete its travel in the whole track in one revolution of theplate.

The displacement of strands through the inner track by strands in theouter track thus is due to the greater total longitudinal tension in thegreater number (50) of strands overcoming the smaller total tension inthe fewer (30) strands, and also due to the dilference in linear speedof the two track portions.

Similarly, the strands in the other plates 2|5, and EFL-22!, are movedtransversely of their longitudinal travel, under the action of thecamniing surfaces in the plate trackways, so that, in each revolution ofsaid plates each strand in any plate passes around the track in saidplate.

The strands passing from the plate 22! through

